Zarqa

Zarqa
Zarqa, from a train of Hejaz railway
Zarqa Location in Jordan
Coordinates: 32°05′N 36°06′E / 32.083°N 36.1°E / 32.083; 36.1
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Zarqa Governorate
Population (2004)
- Total	395,227
Time zone	UTC+2 (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (UTC+3)

Zarqa (Arabic: الزرقاء‎; BGN: Az Zarqāʼ; local pronunciation ez-Zergā or ez-Zer'a) is a city in Jordan located to the northeast of Amman. With a population of 440,227, it is the country's third largest city after Amman and Irbid. Zarqa is the capital of Zarqa Governorate (Arabic Muhāfazat az-Zarqā). Its name means "the blue one".

Overview

Zarqa is Jordan's industrial centre, home to over 50% of Jordanian factories. The growth of industry in the city is the result of low real estate costs and proximity to the capital, Amman. Migration to Zarqa has steadily progressed since the 1940s. More than 50% of Zarqa's population migrated from the West Bank following the Six Day War. Zarqa's climate is desert-like, to a much greater degree than nearby Amman. Qasr Shebib is a prominent local landmark.

Zarqa's population is mostly Palestinian who fled to Jordan in 1948 after the creation of the State of Israel.

A new settlement that will house more than 370,000 people has been approved by the Jordanian government. This will be funded by Saudi Arabian corporations. New office buildings will also be constructed by Gulf corporations.

Transport

A new railway will be constructed to connect Amman with Az-Zarqa. The project is now being devoped by a Spanish engineering company and is going to be paid with Kuwaiti funds.

Education

Hashemite University is also in Zarqa.

See also

• Railway stations in Jordan
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

References

External links

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 568m (Red dots are railways)

Coordinates: 32°05′N 36°06′E / 32.083°N 36.1°E / 32.083; 36.1

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